SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING FOAMED MILK FROM POWDER

Description

[0001] The present application relates generally a beverage dispenser system and more particularly relates to dispenser systems and methods for producing highly foamed milk from milk powder and the like.

[0002] Hot beverages such a cappuccinos and lattés are becoming increasingly popular. In addition to traditional coffee outlets and restaurants, retail outlets from fast food restaurants to convenient stores are providing these and other types hot beverages to their customers. Likewise, various types of vending machines and office dispensers are available. Consumers often desire freshly made foam milk in their hot beverage. The foamed milk generally is of higher quality if it is made fresh for each customer.

[0003] Generally described, foamed milk may be produced from steam, milk, and air. Foamed milk also can be made from milk powder by combining the powder with hot water and air. The use of milk powder often is preferred given its longer shelf life and ease of use. The milk powder, the water, and the air, however, need to be sufficiently mixed. Insufficient mixing may result in some of the powder not being converted to foam and possibly an off taste.

[0004] There is a desire, therefore, for a foamed milk dispenser that can produce foamed milk from milk powder in an efficient, high quality, and high-speed manner to consumers in individual servings or otherwise. The foamed milk dispenser preferably should be easy to use, easy to maintain, and be competitive in terms of costs.

[0005] US 4194843 discloses a beverage mixer comprising a chamber with an impeller rotatably arranged in the chamber and a fluid material inlet opening and a fluid material outlet opening in the chamber and an air inlet means metering air into the chamber to mix with fluid material therein.

[0006] The present application provides a method of mixing a powder, a liquid and air to make a foamed beverage. The method includes the steps of mixing the powder and the liquid to form a powder and liquid mixture, pressurizing the powder and liquid mixture, entraining air into the powder and liquid mixture to make a entrained mixture, and forcing the entrained mixture through an expansion orifice to make the foamed beverage, wherein the forcing the entrained mixture step includes creating a Venturi effect via the expansion orifice. The pressurizing step preferably includes creating a pressurized area via an impeller. The impeller preferably rotates at about 50 to about 500 revolutions per minute. The method preferably includes the step of pressurizing the air.

[0007] The present application further provides a foamed beverage system. The foamed beverage system includes a liquid system for providing liquid, a powder system for providing powder, an air system for providing air, and a chamber for mixing the powder, the liquid, and the air. The chamber includes an impeller and an expansion orifice, wherein the chamber includes a mixing zone and a pressurized zone with the impeller positioned in between. The pressurised zone includes a tapered wall leading to the expansion orifice. The pressurized zone is preferably pressurized to about five (5) to about fifteen (15) pounds per square inch (about 0.34 to about one (1 bar). The chamber preferably includes an expansion nozzle adjacent to the expansion orifice.

[0008] The present application provides a foamed beverage system wherein preferably the air is entrained within the mixture of the powder and the liquid within the pressurized zone.

[0009] The mixing chamber preferably includes a liquid inlet and a powder inlet positioned about the mixing zone and an air inlet positioned about the pressurized zone. The expansion orifice is preferably positioned adjacent to the pressurized zone. The air system preferably includes an air pump so as to pressurize the air.

[0010] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the foamed milk system as is described herein.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the mixing nozzle of the foamed milk system of Fig. 1.

[0013] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, Figs. 1 and 2 show a foamed milk system 100 as is described herein. The foamed milk system 100 may include a hot water system 110. The hot water system 110 may include a water reservoir 120 with a volume of hot water 130 therein. The water reservoir 120 may be heated via conventional means. The hot water reservoir 120 may be fed via a pump 140 or other types of conventional means. Although the hot water reservoir 120 is shown, any method of producing hot water may be used herein.

[0014] The foamed milk system 100 may include a milk powder system 150. The milk powder system 150 may include a milk powder hopper 160 with an amount of milk powder 170 positioned therein. Powdered milk is typically made by spray drying nonfat skim milk. Pasteurized milk is first concentrated in an evaporator to about fifty percent (50%) milk solids. The resulting concentrated milk is sprayed into a heated chamber where the water almost instantly evaporates, leaving behind fine particles of powdered milk solids. Alternatively, the milk can be dried by drum drying. Milk is applied as a thin film to the surface of a heated drum, and the dried milk solids are then scraped off with a knife. Yet another process is the use of freeze drying. Freeze drying has the advantage of preserving many nutrients in milk compared to drum drying. Although the use of the milk powder 170 is described herein, any type of powdered or granular substance may be used. For example, chocolate, tea, soy and other substances may be used herein.

[0015] The milk powder 170 may be fed from the hopper 160 via an auger drive or via similar types of transfer methods. The milk powder 170 also may be feed via gravity or in combination with a transport device and gravity.

[0016] The foamed milk system 100 further may include a pressurized air system 180. The pressurized air system 180 may provide pressurized air 190 via an air pump 200 as will be described in more detail below. The pressurized air may be between about two (2) to about forty (40) psi (about 0.14 to about 2.8 bar) depending upon the desired flow rate. Any desired pressure or flow rate may be used herein. The air pump 200 may be of conventional design.

[0017] The foamed milk system 100 further includes a mixing chamber 210. The mixing chamber 210 may be made out of conventional types of substantially non-corrosive materials. The mixing chamber 210 may have an upper mixing zone 220. The upper mixing zone 220 receives a supply of the hot water 130 from the hot water system 110 via a water inlet 135 and the milk powder 170 from the milk powder system 150 via a milk powder inlet 155.

[0018] An impeller 230 is positioned about the bottom of the upper mixing zone 220. The impeller 230 may be a conventional rotating device with a number of blades 240 attached to a shaft 250. Likewise, by the use of the term "impeller", we refer to any type of rotating structure. An impeller motor 260 may drive the impeller 230. The impeller motor 260 may be any type of conventional drive device so as to rotate the shaft 250. The impeller 230 may rotate at about fifty (50) to about 500 revolutions per minute or so. Any speed may be used herein. The distance between the blades 240 and the wall of the mixing chamber 210 preferably is minimized so as to maintain a pressure differential therethrough.

[0019] The mixing chamber 210 further includes a lower pressurized zone 270. The lower pressurized zone 270 may have an internal pressure of about five (5) to about fifteen (15) pounds per square inch (about 0.34 to about one (1) bar) or so. Any desired pressure may be used herein. The lower pressurized zone 270 decreases in diameter as compared to the upper mixing zone 220. For example, if the upper mixing zone 220 has a diameter of about two (2) to about four (4) inches (about 50 to about 100 millimeters) or so, the lower pressurized zone may start with a similar diameter and then taper to about 0.8 to about one (1) inches (about 20 to about 25 millimeters) or so. Any dimensions may be used herein. The lower pressurized zone 270 also has an air inlet 280 in communication with the pressurized air system 180 for the insertion of the pressurized air 190.

[0020] Positioned beneath the lower pressurized zone 270 may be an expansion orifice 290. Based upon the dimensions described above, the expansion orifice 290 may have a diameter of about 0.2 to about 0.8 inches (about five (5) to about twenty (20) millimeters) or so. Any dimensions may be used herein. The pressure of the mixture passing therethrough will drop across the expansion orifice 290 so as to promote the foaming of the milk. The expansion orifice 290 then leads to an expansion nozzle 300 of increasing diameter.

[0021] The hot water system 110, the milk powder system 150, the pressurized air system 180, and the mixing chamber 210 may be connected by a number of lines 310. The lines 310 may be made out of rubber, silicon, stainless steel, other types metals, plastics, or other types of substantially non-corrosive materials. The materials used preferably are food grade. One or more of the lines 310 may be disposable.

[0022] In use, the hot water 130 from the hot water system 110 and the milk powder 170 from the milk powder system 150 are mixed within the upper mixing zone 220 of the mixing chamber 210. The hot water 130 and the milk powder 170 are mixed together with the aid of the impeller 230 to form a product stream. The hot water 130 and the milk powder 170 within the product stream continue mixing as they pass through the impeller 230 into the lower pressurized zone 270.

[0023] The pressurized air 190 from the pressurized air system 180 is injected into the lower pressurized zone 270 via the air inlet 280. As described above, the use of the impeller 230 creates pressure within the lower pressurized zone 270 such that the pressurized air 190 becomes entrained into the resultant product stream as the pressurized air passes through the air inlet 280. The tapered of the lower pressurized zone 270 leading to the expansion orifice 290 also increases the speed of the product stream and creates a Venturi effect therethrough. Specifically, lower pressure behind the impeller 230 pulls more of the product stream towards the blades 240 with increasing speed. The resultant mixture is then expanded through the orifice 290 so as to create a foamed milk product 320.

[0024] Through the use of the lower pressurized zone 270, the impeller 230, and the expansion orifice 290, the pressurized air is thoroughly mixed and entrained within the product stream so as to create a higher quality foamed milk product 320. The foamed milk system 100 as a whole is more resistant to plugging as the impeller 230 drives the product stream through the mixing chamber 210 rather than simply relying on a gravity feed.

Claims

1. A method of mixing a powder (170), a liquid (130), and air (190) to make a foamed beverage (320), comprising:

mixing the powder and the liquid to form a powder and liquid mixture;

pressurizing the powder and liquid mixture;

entraining air (190) into the powder and liquid mixture to make an entrained mixture; and

forcing the entrained mixture through an expansion orifice (290) to make the foamed beverage,

characterized in that the forcing the entrained mixture step comprises creating a Venturi effect via the expansion orifice (290).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing step comprises creating a pressurized area via an impeller (230).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the impeller (230) rotates at about 50 to about 500 revolutions per minute.

4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising the step of pressurizing the air (190).

5. A foamed beverage system (100), comprising:

a liquid system (110) for providing liquid (130);

a powder system (150) for providing powder (170);

an air system (180) for providing air (190); and

a chamber (210) for mixing the liquid, the powder, and the air;

the chamber comprising an impeller (230) and an expansion orifice, wherein the chamber comprises a mixing zone (220) and a pressurized zone (270) with the impeller positioned in between characterized in that the pressurized zone comprises a tapered wall leading to the expansion orifice (290).

6. The foamed beverage system (100) of claim 5, wherein the pressurized zone (270) comprises about five (5) to about fifteen (15) pounds per square inch (about 0.34 to about one (1) bar).

7. The foamed beverage system (100) of claim 5 or 6, wherein the chamber comprises an expansion nozzle (300) adjacent to the expansion orifice (290).

8. The foamed beverage system (100) of claim 5, arranged such that the air (190) is entrained within the mixture of the powder (170) and the liquid (130) within the pressurized zone (270).

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum Mischen eines Pulvers (170), einer Flüssigkeit (130) und Luft (190) zur Zubereitung eines geschäumten Getränks (320) mit folgenden Schritten:

Mischen des Pulvers und der Flüssigkeit zur Bildung eines Gemischs aus Pulver und Flüssigkeit,

Beaufschlagen des Gemischs aus Pulver und Flüssigkeit mit Druck,

Einbringen von Luft (190) in das Gemisch aus Pulver und Flüssigkeit zur Herstellung eines Gemischs mit Luftbläschen und

Durchdrücken des Gemischs mit Luftbläschen durch eine Expansionsöffnung (290) zur zubereitung des geschäumten Getränks,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Schritt des Durchdrückens des Gemischs mit Luftbläschen das Erzeugen eines Venturi-Effekts über die Expansionsöffnung (290) umfasst.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Druckbeaufschlagungsschritt das Erzeugen eines druckbeaufschlagten Bereichs über ein Laufrad (230) umfasst.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, wobei sich das Laufrad (230) mit ungefähr 50 bis ungefähr 100 Umdrehungen pro Minute dreht.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, ferner mit dem Schritt des Druckbeaufschlagens der Luft (190).

5. Geschäumtes Getränkesystem (100) mit
einem Flüssigkeitssystem (110) zur Bereitstellung von Flüssigkeit (130),
einem Pulversystem (150) zur Bereitstellung von Pulver (170),
einem Luftsystem (180) zur Bereitstellung von Luft (190) und
einer Kammer (210) zum Mischen der Flüssigkeit, des Pulvers und der Luft,
wobei die Kammer ein Laufrad (230) und eine Expansionsöffnung umfasst, wobei die Kammer eine Mischzone (220) und eine druckbeaufschlagte Zone (270) umfasst, wobei das Laufrad dazwischen positioniert ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die druckbeaufschlagte Zone eine konisch zulaufende Wand umfasst, die zur Expansionsöffnung (290) führt.

6. Geschäumtes Getränkesystem (100) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die druckbeaufschlagte Zone (270) ungefähr 0,34 bis ungefähr ein (1) bar (ungefähr fünf (5) bis ungefähr fünfzehn (15) Pfund pro Quadratzoll) umfasst.

7. Geschäumtes Getränkesystem (100) nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, wobei die Kammer eine Expansionsdüse (300) neben der Expansionsöffnung (290) umfasst.

8. Geschäumtes Getränkesystem (100) nach Anspruch 5, das so angeordnet ist, dass die Luft (190) in der druckbeaufschlagten Zone (270) in das Gemisch des Pulvers (170) und der Flüssigkeit (130) eingebracht wird.

Revendications

1. Procédé pour mélanger une poudre (170), un liquide (130) et de l'air (190) pour préparer une boisson mousseuse (320), comprenant les étapes consistant à :

mélanger la poudre et le liquide pour former un mélange de poudre et de liquide ;

pressuriser le mélange de poudre et de liquide ;

entraîner de l'air (190) dans le mélange de poudre et de liquide pour préparer un mélange entraîné ; et

forcer le mélange entraîné à travers un orifice d'expansion (290) pour préparer la boisson mousseuse,

caractérisé en ce que

l'étape consistant à forcer le mélange entraîné comprend la création d'un effet Venturi par le biais de l'orifice d'expansion (290).

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'étape de pressurisation comprend la création d'une zone pressurisée par le biais d'une roue (230).

3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la roue (230) tourne à environ 50 à environ 500 tours par minute.

4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à pressuriser l'air (190).

5. Système de boisson mousseuse (100), comprenant :

un système de liquide (110) pour fournir du liquide (130) ;

un système de poudre (150) pour fournir de la poudre (170) ;

un système d'air (180) pour fournir de l'air (190) ; et

une chambre (210) pour mélanger le liquide, la poudre et l'air ;

la chambre comprenant une roue (230) et un orifice d'expansion,

la chambre comprenant une zone de mélange (220) et une zone pressurisée (270), la roue étant positionnée entre elles, caractérisé en ce que la zone pressurisée comprend une paroi effilée conduisant à l'orifice d'expansion (290).

6. Système de boisson mousseuse (100) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la zone pressurisée (270) comprend environ cinq (5) à environ quinze (15) livres par pouce carré (environ 0,34 à environ un (1) bar).

7. Système de boisson mousseuse (100) selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans lequel la chambre comprend une buse d'expansion (300) adjacente à l'orifice d'expansion (290).

8. Système de boisson mousseuse (100) selon la revendication 5, agencé de telle sorte que l'air (190) est entraîné dans le mélange de la poudre (170) et du liquide (130) à l'intérieur de la zone pressurisée (270).

Drawing